One key development is the increasing number of EVs at salvage auctions. As EVs become more common, the demand for their components, such as Engine Control Modules (ECMs), Transmission Control Modules (TCMs), and Body Control Modules (BCMs), is rising.

(Auto Recycling World late March 2024 article)​

The post The Promising Future of Used EV Parts in 2024: Sustainability and Tech Innovations Drive a Thriving Market appeared first on Stealth EV.

Kirk Miller’s long journey to recently joining Hypercraft began decades ago. His love of motorsports started on ice-racing tracks in New York state and at the drag strip and motocross track of Old Bridge Township Raceway Park. Miller opened his own race-prep and performance shop when he was just 22 years old.

After moving from New Jersey to California in 1993, Miller became the US director of GReddy Performance Products, just as the sport-compact scene was heating up. He later joined AEM Performance Electronics, where he capped a 24-year run as vice president of sales and marketing.

Miller explained that Hypercraft, which has operations in Utah and California, is designing and engineering complete EV drive solutions for vehicles at a fleet level, including powersports, industrial, military, and marine. Stealth EV, which Hypercraft purchased in 2022, is the aftermarket sales division for both consumers and builders.

He shared his outlook with PRI. Click here to read more.

The post Stealth EV Featured In PRI appeared first on Stealth EV.

Addition of Stealth EV expands Hypercraft’s reach in the EV parts, manufacturing, and retail markets.

Provo, UT – July 8, 2022 – Today, Hypercraft Inc. announced their Asset Purchase of StealthEV — a fully-integrated EV solutions company specializing in performance EV, hybrid design, engineering, manufacturing, and EV parts sales. The Oceanside, CA company owns and distributes the Stealth Drive electric motor — a unique, high performance, high output electric motor designed in-house with continuous and peak power output levels that are unmatched by current EV motor options. As part of the acquisition, Stealth EV founder and CEO Matt Hauber, joins Hypercraft along with his team. Both companies will continue their current operations and activities in California and Utah respectively.

“Joining forces with Hypercraft is a huge deal and something that we at Stealth EV are incredibly excited about,” says Hauber. “We’ve already started bringing together all of the great experience, relationships, and know-how that we both have, and look forward to expanding our combined offerings to more customers and builders across even more industries and segments.”

Stealth EV designs and builds their proprietary Stealth Drive EV motor. The lightweight and powerful motor operates at a significantly higher continuous torque-rating, compared to motors of the same weight and power consumption. It also features an enhanced cooling system, allowing it to run cooler than other EV motors, and is available with an output shaft compatible with all Chevrolet LS motor equipment. In addition to offering the Stealth Drive motor in more of their complete EV drive system packages, Hypercraft plans to scale production of the motor to continue offering it as a single component through Stealth EV’s existing sales channels.

“Matt’s an EV genius with tons of hands-on experience in design, fabrication, electrical engineering, and a million other things that make him a great partner for us,” said Hypercraft CEO, Jake Hawksworth. “Working together with Stealth EV is going to help us accelerate all aspects of our business in a really meaningful way.“
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About Stealth EV

Stealth EV has been designing and building high-quality electric vehicle conversions in California since 2015 — including lending their EV expertise to private label electric builds. Notable electric conversions include a 1949 Mercury Coupe featured at SEMA Show and a 1966 Fiat Giardinetta — both builds completed for notable restomod company,  ICON.

About Hypercraft

Hypercraft, Inc. builds and sells complete electric drive systems to a variety of B2C and B2B buyers, including customers in the on-road, off-road recreation, racing, resto-mod, fleet, and marine industries. Their systems — built with all-new parts — including motors, battery management (BMS), high voltage junction box, high and low voltage wiring, CAN bus connectivity, software, display, and throttle. Batteries are also included in the package price, and Hypercraft designs and builds their HyperPack batteries in capacities ranging from 20kWh to 120 kWh.

The post Stealth EV Joins Forces With Hypercraft appeared first on Stealth EV.

Derelicts are basically resto-mods. Their exteriors and interiors are left looking as original as possible to preserve decades of patina, but underneath ICON adds modern powertrains and technology. Typically said powertrain is a crate V8, but not this time.

Built for a “longtime client who gave ICON the go-ahead to push the boundaries of design and engineering”, this Mercury is running dual electric motors and a Tesla 85kWh battery. The result is 400bhp, 470lb ft of torque, between 150 and 200 miles of range, and CHAdeMO 125A fast-charger and Tesla Supercharger plugs hidden behind the front number plate and in the original fuel filler cap respectively.

The batteries are distributed “strategically” throughout the car, while the motors are installed where the transmission once lived. Under the bonnet, the battery controllers and various modules are finished in polished aluminium and arranged to look like an old-school V8. Even all the wires get custom sheathing, so they look like the original loom.

The exterior looks just like it did when ICON bought it from its original owner in Southern California. The car was immediately disassembled, then put back together again with new rubbers plus more insulation and sound-deadening. Inside the analogue dials have been replaced by a small screen – the only real clue this thing isn’t what it seems. There’s also A/C and electric windows operated by the original winders.

You want it, right? Ask ‘em nicely and ICON might build you something similar. Money talks and all that. In the meantime, see it in the metal at SEMA in Las Vegas.

Full article here

The post This 1949 Mercury is an EV with Tesla batteries appeared first on Stealth EV.

They say that the 1949 Mercury EV Derelict was commissioned by a longtime client, who gave ICON the “go-ahead to push the boundaries of design and engineering.”

The concept of “resto-modding” involves restoring older vehicles while adding new technology to make them safer and more convenient.

In this case, ICON said that it “forensically disassembled the body, replaced all rubber, added insulation and sound-deadening products everywhere. It then reassembled the vehicle in a manner that tried to make it look like nothing had been touched. A robust 4-wheel-independent chassis was developed with Art Morrison Enterprises alongside Brembo brakes.”

As for the powertrain, that’s where Stealth EV came in to help. Here’s how they describe it:

“The dual electric motor, transmission-less design provides 470 lb-ft of freight-train torque and the equivalent of 400 horsepower, with no shifts all the way up to the Merc’s 120 MPH top speed. A full Tesla Performance 85kWh battery array is strategically fit throughout the vehicle for exceptional weight balance. It is capable of an estimated 150- to 200-mile range and has 1.5-hour full recharge capability. ICON positioned a CHAdeMO 125A fast-charger plug behind the tilting front license plate frame and also converted the original gas filler into a Tesla supercharger plug to expedite in-transit charging. A pioneering EV management system protects the batteries from overcharging and also provides thermal management and a host of capabilities and protections.”

In order to maintain some of the vintage look with the modern electric powertrain, they built a custom aluminum “engine” enclosure that actually houses the battery controllers and a few of the Tesla modules

They also added other convenience features like electric A/C and controls to support modern components and functions.

The vehicle is being displayed at the Optima Battery booth #20323 at SEMA 2018 in Las Vegas this week.

Full article here

The post 1949 Mercury coupe goes electric with a Tesla battery pack appeared first on Stealth EV.

Amid myriad displays of chromed-out custom cars filling the halls of the Las Vegas Convention Center where the 2018 edition of SEMA is currently taking place, sits a 1949 Mercury coupe that looks like it would be more at home sitting up on blocks in a scruffy neighborhood. No, it isn’t lost. It is, rather, a master class in automotive deception; a sleeper that would startle any and all comers at the traffic light Gran Prix; an electric vehicle that looks like anything but. Behold the latest and greatest entry into the Derelict collection produced by ICON and their electrification partners, Stealth EV.

Beneath the exterior of the naturally oxidized patina of the antique bodywork hides a beast of high-voltage proportions. Lift that long hood, and instead of the expected V8, you’ll find a set of blindingly bright chromed controllers — one for each of the twinned AM Racing induction motors lurking low in the transmission tunnel — set up in the traditional V-shape of an eight-cylinder engine. Bolted to a custom Art Morrison frame, the drivetrain can summon 400 horsepower and 470 pound-feet of torque while supping, as it does, from an 85 kWh Tesla-sourced battery.

To recharge, the car is equipped with a CHAdeMO connector hiding behind the front license plate. Under the gas cap, you’ll find a Tesla connector for what we assume is for AC charging. Once full of electrons, it is said to be able to get you 150 to 200 miles down the road.

Faithful InsideEVs readers may remember this car from the time we featured it as it was being put together. Back then, just the raw potential made us crazy ’bout this Mercury. Now, with the finishing touches in place, we’re straitjacket nuts about it. The seats, though similar to period correct, are freshly upholstered in high-end material. Most, if not all of the handles, switches, bezels are custom pieces. If the devil is in the details, it’s like we died and went to hell: one warmed by the roasting of tires instead of brimstone.

Official presser and photos follow.

ICON DEBUTS “DERELICT” 1949 MERCURY COUPE  WITH PIONEERING EV CONVERSION AT SEMA 2018

Jonathan Ward Continues To Infuse Vintage Styling With State-Of-The-Art Technology

CHATSWORTH, CA – As with all ICON projects, the latest one is all about pushing the limits and challenging the status quo. When approaching a 1949 Mercury Coupe Derelict project, ICON co-founder/lead designer Jonathan Ward asked, “Why are all production EV vehicles devoid of heart and soul? Why is the aftermarket EV-conversion industry so slow to evolve and provide comprehensive systems and solutions? Why can’t you have the best of both worlds: the style and quality of a vintage vehicle with modern performance and functionality? We say you can have your cake and eat it too!”

As background, the purpose behind ICON’s Derelict line is to celebrate and preserve the original patina and exterior trim on the car. This 1949 Mercury Coupe was sourced from the original owners, and it has been in Southern California since new. ICON forensically disassembled the body, replaced all rubber, added insulation and sound-deadening products everywhere, then reassembled it in a manner that tried to make it look like nothing had been touched. A robust 4-wheel-independent chassis was developed with Art Morrison Enterprises alongside Brembo brakes.

The powertrain is all-modern and was a co-engineering exercise between ICON and Stealth EV. The dual electric motor, transmission-less design provides 470 lb-ft of freight-train torque and the equivalent of 400 horsepower, with no shifts all the way up to the Merc’s 120 MPH top speed. A full Tesla Performance 85kWh battery array is strategically fit throughout the vehicle for exceptional weight balance. It is capable of an estimated 150- to 200-mile range and has 1.5-hour full recharge capability. ICON positioned a CHAdeMO 125A fast-charger plug behind the tilting front license plate frame and also converted the original gas filler into a Tesla supercharger plug to expedite in-transit charging. A pioneering EV management system protects the batteries from overcharging and also provides thermal management and a host of capabilities and protections.

ICON had a bit of fun with the engine bay. Since the electric motors fit where the old transmission once resided, Jonathan Ward thought it would be fun to reference vintage V-8 speed equipment. The custom aluminum “engine” actually houses the battery controllers and a few of the Tesla modules – designed in a traditional V-8 array with a polished and media-blasted finish for a decidedly vintage aesthetic. Then ICON had custom cloth-braided sheathing made for the wires under the hood, referencing the original wiring loom.

In the interior, ICON wanted to keep the materials vintage-appropriate and light. Fabric from Knoll Textiles and hides from Moore & Giles and Relicate Leather realized the exact design that Jonathan Ward envisioned. Power windows operate via the original analog window cranks; tapping twice on the driver’s side drops or raises all windows at once. While all gauges are modern digital Andromeda, the design strongly references the original analog units, down to the typeface and background. Other significantly redesigned elements include in-dash A/C vents (not to mention electric A/C), and all custom switches and bezels are inspired by the originals but support modern components and functions.

To ICON, the smallest details are never superfluous. The 1949 Mercury EV Derelict was commissioned by a longtime client, who gave ICON the go-ahead to push the boundaries of design and engineering. The result is what makes an ICON Derelict a piece of rolling sculpture. SEMA 2018 attendees can see the ICON 1949 Mercury EV Derelict in the Optima Battery booth #20323.

The post This Mercury Coupe Is The Electric Sleeper Of Our Dreams appeared first on Stealth EV.

This 1966 Fiat Giardinetta is likely to be the coolest car you’ll see all day. Maybe all week. Basically a Fiat Cinquecento (500) stretched to station wagon proportions, this particular Giardinetta has been electrified by our friends over at Stealth EV. Meanwhile, every other detail has been gone through and been upgraded or replaced by the folks at ICON. Practically the only thing untouched is the bodywork. The result? The Icon 1966 600 Giardinetta Derelict Fiat EV (we don’t know why they refer to it as a 600, since the Giardinetta was based on the 500, but, hey). Though perhaps unassuming, it is true bellissima to both behold and drive.

If you haven’t already, we highly recommend clicking play and going for a ride with ICON’s Jonathon Ward while he discusses the technical details of what they’ve done to the little Italian, along with the driving experience. We’ll cover the electric part for you, just in case you’re pressed for time.

The tiny engine that was originally located in the rear has been swapped for an air-cooled, electric induction motor: an AC 35 HPEVS rated for 82 horsepower and 94 pound-feet of torque, to be exact. It gets its marching orders from a Curtis controller. Bolted up to the cars transaxle, the transmission has been locked into 3rd gear, making operation a pretty straightforward affair. The car now possesses a lot more horses than it ever had, and though not a race car by any stretch, is extremely responsive.

The battery that supplies the energy for the 144-volt system consists of six Tesla modules, adding up to 30 kWh. Battery management duties fall to a system from Orion. Located under the hood, the energy pack holds enough juice to take it over 120 miles on a charge while moving at 60 mph. Certainly, 150 miles while puttering about town would be possible.

To handle the extra weight, the brakes have been upgraded, and the suspension beefed up with coil overs. According to Ward, the revamped vehicle goes down the Interstate quite nicely, especially for a car this size.

Beautifully shot and well narrated, be sure to take nine-and-a-half minutes to enjoy all the footage and acquaint yourself with the many little touches that make this tiny car a huge conversion success. Enjoy!

The post ICON’s 1966 Fiat Giardinetta Derelict Is Electric appeared first on Stealth EV.

What happens when the little two-cylinder in your Fiat 500 just doesn’t cut it anymore? Go electric. Jonathan Ward’s Icon 4×4 and Stealth EV fit this Fiat 500 Giardiniera with six Tesla batteries and an electric motor, transforming it from a cute affectation to a daily-driver classic. It’s pretty much perfect.

Now I have to admit, I’ve been a little cold on EV conversions for classic cars. In the case of an electric Ferrari 308 or a Jaguar E-Type, their engines define their character—getting rid of them just seems wrong. But with the 500, the original two-cylinder wasn’t anything all that special in the first place, and it’s probably underpowered for many American roads. An electric conversion changes the character of a 500, yes, but as Ward points out in this video, it makes it genuinely usable, too. That’s what tripling the horsepower will do.

Being a product of Ward, this 500 has been given lavish updates that maintain the car’s aesthetics while improving functionality. The fake Veglia-branded gauge for battery charge is an especially nice touch.

Ward and Icon are best known for resto-modded off-roaders, but I think they could have success with electric 500s, too. This one is just that lovely.

Full article here

The post An Electric Conversion Made This Fiat 500 a Daily-Drivable Classic appeared first on Stealth EV.

Dubbed the Fiat Giardinetta EV Derelict, due to the maintenance of the original car’s exterior, this 1966 gem was able to fit electric components while keeping its four-seat configuration. The car has six Tesla-sourced batteries, two in the front and four in the rear to keep things balanced. It uses an Orion battery management system and an AC35 motor. The suspension was bolstered up with coilovers, a bigger panhard bar was added, and the car now uses upgraded disc brakes.

Hilariously, it has similar, if not better, specs than Fiat’s current 500e. Icon and Stealth EV claim the car has about 80 horsepower and about 100 pound-feet of torque. Using a single-speed gearbox, it revs up to 5000 rpm, and due to the electric powertrain, has 100 percent of its torque the entire way up.

The battery kit was able to achieve 120 miles of range at 65 mph in a test run, and the company estimates it could reach 150 miles on a single charge when driven in less taxing city conditions. Keep in mind, this car only has heat but no air conditioning (cold air was possible, but it would be pricey and isn’t really necessary when it already has a retractable top).

Extra Icon modifications included new weather stripping, new glass seals, and added Dynamat to quiet the old car down. Icon also reupholstered the seats with marine-rated vinyl and incorporated a few Italian leather accents.

According to Stealth EV, similar battery modules are available for around $1,500 (remember there are six of these modules in this Fiat) and the kit is not a one-off-specific job. Now that they have the CAD specs, the setup could be replicated fairly easily. We suddenly want a completely impractical mini station wagon.

Full article here

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